Chapter 35

In the diplomacy of war, whether you succeed or fail, there is always a price to pay.

However, usually, it is not nobles like me or knights who pay that price, but those who do not hold power.

Because when war breaks out, nobles like me rarely get hurt or killed because we wear “expensive armor that costs a lot of money.”

Furthermore, even if we are captured, as long as the right amount of money is paid, we can avoid the risks of dying or being abused, unlike commoners or soldiers.

So there are occasionally foolish nobles who enjoy this bliss without responsibility, but I cannot be one of them…

Because…

“Your Excellency the Count, I will now read the list of the dead and severely injured.”

I need to confirm the ones who bore the responsibility of war on my behalf.

“Go ahead, start.”

Upon hearing that, a knight in splendid armor bowed his head in respect and began to read the document carefully.

“Sir Knight Florin, dead; Sir Knight William, severely injured; Captain Zick, severely injured; Lieutenant Croi, dead; Lieutenant Mandelheim, dead; Second Lieutenant Selt-Bierkan, dead; Second Lieutenant Hein Meis, dead; Sergeant Zack, dead…”

After reading the list in a monotonous voice for about a minute, the knight finally announced loudly that there were no more names.

“In total, 20 dead and 10 severely injured! And the enemy’s casualties are countless. Additionally, prisoners include Count Santoburg and Count Kelt, along with 20 knights and 200 soldiers!”

When he finished, the knights who were listening to the report burst into applause and cheers.

“Long live!! Long live Count Croilet!!”

“At this point, isn’t this the best outcome? Haha… I can’t believe it. Since Bierhill lost, hand over 5 silver coins.”

“Alright, but I’ll pay with drinks when the merchant of war arrives.”

“Okay, I’ll ensure to put a hole in your wallet.”

If we look at the numbers alone, one could say it was the best outcome.

We clashed with 3,000 enemy soldiers, yet we only had 20 dead and emerged victorious.

Historically, a commander who only had 1% casualties in a battle of this scale was called a “great general”…

In other words, I managed to achieve the utmost result possible.

Thinking this way, I felt the “regret for those who died on the battlefield” I felt yesterday slowly fade away.

However, those are still soldiers who died by “my orders”…

Before savoring the joy of winning the war, it is fitting to express gratitude and remorse for them.

With that sentiment, I raised my right hand to halt the celebrating knights and said,

“Before we rejoice, I wish to express respect and sorrow for our comrades who bravely fought and perished in this war. Everyone, raise your cups.”

As the knights raised their cups, the soldiers waiting behind began pouring wine into them.

After all the wine was poured, I spoke with a sorrowful heart before celebrating our victory.

“Let us honor our brave comrades who fought valiantly and gratitude for the victory gained through their sacrifices. With that sentiment, let us drink.”

Once I finished speaking, everyone seemed to reflect on the comrades who would have perished on the battlefield, pouring their wine silently with sad expressions.

I had deliberately brought in a sweeter wine, but perhaps due to my melancholy, it tasted exceedingly bitter.

After confirming that all of us knights had finished the wine, I smiled and said,

“Gentlemen, we have achieved a perfect victory and successfully received huge reparations, along with territories and mines from the enemy.”

After I said that, the knights put down their cups and began to cheer enthusiastically.

“Long live!!”

“Reparations, territories, and mines!! Your Excellency the Count will surely be pleased to hear this news!!”

“Huh… To show such a remarkable sight in my last battle as an old knight… I am at peace even if I were to die now…”

I raised my left hand to calm them down and continued speaking.

“However, it is too early to break the wine barrels and enjoy the feast and celebrations! All battles of this war have ended, but the aftermath of the war remains. Therefore, we shall recover the bodies of the fallen comrades over the next two days, and then summon the merchants of war to enjoy the banquet! Now, disband!”

**

In this era, there are mainly two reasons for recovering bodies on the battlefield.

One is to pay “respects to the fallen” by giving a proper burial to our own soldiers.

Although we cannot carry the bodies back to their hometowns due to transportation limits, providing a funeral at least on the battlefield and sending personal belongings to the bereaved families serves as a great comfort.

The other reason is to loot various weapons and armor from the enemy.

At this time, the looted bodies are classified according to their status in life.

The bodies of nobles are buried with some form of respect, while the bodies of common soldiers are left behind with only their armor and weapons stripped away.

However, knowing that leaving such bodies would lead to the spread of diseases, I ordered the soldiers to at least perform a brief cremation on the common soldiers’ bodies.

After spending two days clearing the battlefield, the merchants of war that both nobles and soldiers had been waiting for finally appeared.

I had dealt with various merchants in the past, but due to my circumstances, I had rarely interacted with merchants of war, making it practically my first time seeing them…

Upon initially seeing them, I felt like I was looking at a walking male-exclusive theme park.

Carts filled with all kinds of food that soldiers enjoy, such as bread, meat, beer, and wine; blacksmiths who could do simple repairs on damaged weapons; clowns and bards to entertain the soldiers; and even numerous courtesans who could provide “adult diversions”…

Is that why everyone, soldiers and nobles alike, has been waiting for those folks?

As I watched the procession, a stout man who appeared to be the head of the group approached me, rubbing his hands together, and said,

“Your Excellency the Croilet Count, congratulations on your victory. I am Shylock, the leader of the Golden Honey Association. Thank you for inviting us here today, hehehe… Here is a little something…”

He then handed me a small pouch filled with silver coins.

By the size, it seemed to contain about 100 coins… and it was his implied request to allow ‘overcharging’ in exchange for receiving this.

However, I brusquely pushed away his hand that was offering the bribe and said,

“I have no need for bribes. But if you overcharge my soldiers, I won’t stay silent. And I have no need for women either.”

Upon hearing that, the merchant looked at me with a dumbfounded expression and slyly threatened,

“However, if you refuse our sincerity like this…”

“Do you think such threats will work on me? I can relay your words directly to the apprentice of Hamburg. And…”

I raised my hand to call Ella, who was standing near me.

As Ella approached, the merchant seemed to misinterpret the situation, nodded, and cautiously said,

“If you have such a beautiful maid with you… then surely what we have cannot compare… I understand. In light of your appearance, we will only accept five times what we originally planned.”

If I refuse this, the soldiers’ morale will drop, and considering the expenses for bringing such goods from the nearest free city, alongside the profit he hopes to make…

“Alright, five times is fine. If I receive any more, I won’t stay silent. And in exchange, let my soldiers sell the weapons they acquired from the enemy at a good price. Now, hurry and prepare.”

After hearing my words, the merchant thought for a moment and, realizing he would still profit even if he took all the weapons I was selling, he responded with a bright expression.

“I will do my utmost to serve Your Excellency’s soldiers.”

**

The merchants of war quickly moved their carts in front of our camp, and soon they set up facilities enough for all 3,000 of our soldiers to enjoy.

To stimulate the soldiers’ appetites, they skewered sheep and pigs and roasted them whole, while beer and wine barrels were lined up beside them.

A bit further away, clowns and bards gathered near a bonfire, singing and performing tricks…

Even further away, tents were set up for clandestine pleasures… No, rather, the sound of women’s moans echoed from the “tent” set up for such purposes.

Knights, claiming that mingling with soldiers in such places would lower their status, summon women to their own private tents…

Truly, they seemed like unrestrained medieval macho men…

Watching such knights and soldiers enjoying themselves, I took a bite of a whole roasted beef hindquarter and sighed, saying,

“Really playing hard…”

Next to me, Ella, who was attending to me, smiled and answered,

“Yes, my lord. Everyone seems to be having such a good time. Do you remember when we held a festival in Windheim before? You were having fun with the townspeople then too.”

“I do. It was fortunate that it was just Zackri and me… I remember that guy, feeling good on the day of the festival, threw up on me.”

“Yes, and the next day he came to you begging, ‘Young master, I have committed a grave sin! Please spare my life!!’ At that time, you…”

“I said, ‘I was also drunk back then, so I don’t recall such a thing. Did you have a dream after drinking? How blasphemous…’ and just let it slide.”

Talking about Zackri brings back memories of when I first came to this territory and tried to survive.

Back then, I desperately tried not to go to the Academy, doing everything I could…

And while we struggled to disseminate the method of producing sugar, it was a tough but rewarding time.

Now, having become a count, it would be hard to meet Zackri again like when I was the lord of Windheim…

No, I have now driven the people who helped me live well for whatever reason into the “battlefield”…

I achieved a tremendous victory, and it would be challenging for anyone to surpass these results…

But honestly, it leaves an uncomfortable feeling.

Whether she knows my heart or not, Ella soon approached me, pouring wine from a bottle.

“Your Excellency, you are just as magnificent as back then. And even now, you are taking care of soldiers just like you did for the townspeople back then. I heard from Lord Balt that you ordered the merchants of war, who originally intended to charge twenty times more, to only charge five times.”

I downed the wine that Ella poured and replied,

“Because then my soldiers will continue to follow me. And I can’t just let them take my soldiers’ money for merely 100 silver coins, can I?”

Hearing that, Ella smiled gently and quietly refilled my cup again.

This wine… it’s richer than I expected?

Afterward, Ella continued sharing delightful memories from Windheim, comforting me by saying that the soldiers must be grateful to their lord, just like the serfs in Windheim now.

About an hour passed while I pleasantly drank wine, and I began to feel a slight dizziness in front of me.

I tried to walk back to the tent on my own, but perhaps due to drinking too much in the excitement, my steps wobbled, making it hard to walk properly.

Seeing me like this, Ella, with a gentle smile, quietly supported me and guided me to the tent.

Once inside the tent, Ella removed my armor and quietly whispered in my ear.

“My lord, Ella wants to comfort you, who was hurt on the battlefield.”